Apparatus for delivering articles, such as mail-bags, from trains or moving bodies.



M. D. VAN LENTEN. APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTIOLES,SUGH AS MAIL BAGS,PROM TRAINS 0R MOVING BODIES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1913.

1,074,027. Patented Sept.23,1913.

3 BHEETS-SHEBT 1.

WITNESSES V "NTOR m M filwi j7i 1 4,4 g, W, b 49 f/ haAl/Orney COLUMDLPLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

M. D. VAN LENTEN.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES,SUGH AS MAIL BAGSIROM TRAINS 0R MOVINGBODIES.

AIPLIUATION FILED MAR. 1. 1913.

3 R m M m a/ S m d s e 3 W w W a D1 A A 4 H m A w m 1 M Allomqy COLUMB APLANOUIIAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, 0. c

M. D. VAN LENTEN.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTIGLBS,SUGH AS MAIL BAGS,FROM TRAINS 0RMOVING BODIES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1913.

1 974,027, Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I Attorney W/TNESSES [NVF .Y OR

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (30.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

MAURICE D. VAN LENI'EN, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES,

SUCH AS MAIL-BAGS, FROM TRAINS OR MOVING BODIES.

Application filed March 1, 1913.

To all who-m,- 2'75 may concern Be it known that I, Marnneu D. VANLmvrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at laters n, in thecounty of Passaic and btate of New Jersey, have invented ccrtain new anduseful improvements in ripparatus for Delivering Articles, such astriad-Bags, from Trains or Moving Bodies, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for ('lelivering articles such asmail-bags from trains or moving bodies.

One object of the invention is to provide in a device of this kind aturnable receiving or *atching arm that will move or actuate in suchmanner subsequent to the reception or catching of a bag thereby, as notto impart severe shocks or jolts to the several parts of the apparatus.

A second object is to provide latch means for maintaining the arm inprojected position preparatory to a catch, operable to release the armupon the catching ot a bag.

A third object is to provide means whereby the arm will be positivelyturned or moved upon the actuation of the latch means.

A fourth object is to provide means to operate in connection with thearm so as to exert braking action thereon or a part thereof to regulatethe speed at which the arm turns and its extent of turning movement.

A fifth object is to provide the apparatus of such coi'istruction that alock arm for the catch hook employed, may serve as a means to be engagedby the bag or other article to actuate the latch means mentioned.

A sixth object is to provide an improved construction of means forholding or supporting a bag or article as from a car, in position to becaught.

Further objects are to provide a device that employs parts few innumber, simple in ciuistructioi'i, durable in operation, and hence adevice that will prove ellicient and may be u'ianutactured at minimumcost.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter andillustrated in drawings accompanying this application.

In said drawings Figure i1. is an elevation illustrating the apparatusin connection with a car, the end thereof being partly Specification ofLetters Patent.

. atcirted Sept. 23, it 9 13.

Serial No. 751,638.

shown and a mail-bag projected therefrom in position to be caught; Fig.2 is an enlarged vertical. sectional view through the turuable head forthe arm illustrating therein in elevation, the means for securing thearm in projected position, and the means for braking the turnable headduring its movement; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-43of .liig. 2; Fig. t is a vertical sectional view illustrating thecatching arm and turnable head thereon, togethenwith the m Bans carriedthereby; Fig. 5 is an ele vation looking toward the outer end of thecatching arm illustrating parts of the catch mechanism; Fig. (3 is anelevation illustrating a part of the bracket for supporting the ringattached to mail-bags and the like, said ring being shown fastened tothe support; and l ig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating said bracketring and supporting means.

The article illustrated as being transferable troin a car, is shown as amail-bag which is fastened to a member to which may be fastened aplurality oil the bags so that the same may be transferred as a unit.

Throughout the several views of the drawlugs, like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts.

lle'lerring specifically to the drawings, 1 designates a car or nmvingbody from one side ot which may be projected a bracket or arm 2. Thisbracket 2 is mounted to swing relatively to the side (it the car and iscapable ot' ii'iovelnent vertically on a rod 3 of a suitable bracketfl'astcncd to the car. To the arm 2 is fastened a support rod 4- whichis adapted to enter a socket in a bracket 5 when the arm 2 is inprojected position, so that the arm will be readily supported in suchposition. in swinging the arm 9 toward the car or intcriorly thereotwhen not in use, said, arm is first raised so that the lower portion ofrod t will disengage its socket in order to permit the swingingmovement.

Near the outer end of arm 2 is provided a plurality of upstanding orvertical armsdes- 'ignated (3. Surrounding each arm is a plurality ofpivotal leaves 7 which are also adapted to surround a loop or ring 8.The mail-bag or bags to be caught designated 9, are strapped orotherwise fastened to the railway track.

ring 8. This ring 8 securely holds the bags, but in such manner that theholding means may be released by means or parts later to be described.The pairs of leaves 7 are lockedtogether in position supporting the ring8 by means of the pins 10 passing through alining eyes of eye members 11of the leaves. Each pin 10 has pivotally 0r flexibly connected thereto alink member 12 which in turn is loosely or pivotally connected to an arm13 pivotally fastened at 14 to the adjacent arm 6. A second link 15 ispivotally or loosely connected to arm 13 which is preferably of flexiblematerial and passes through an eye member 16 carried by a bracket or arm17. The arms 17 have pivotally fastened thereto as at 18, trip arms ormembers 19 adapted to overlap or extend beyond the inner end of eachother as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. To the outer ends of the trip members19, the flexible members 15 are fastened.

Now describing the means for catching the mailbag, the same is supportedby a stationary member such as a pillar or support 20 which is mountedalong a siding of a To the pillar 20 is rigidly fastened a stationaryhead which preferably has a reduced body or post 21 rising from a base22 from which may depend a screw threaded shank 23 adapted to engagescrew threads provided in a hollow portion of pillar 20 and thus serveas one form of means whereby the head may be rigidly fastened to thepillar.

Numeral 24 designates a catching arm which is mounted to turn or swingabout the head 21 and is specifically connected in operative relationthereto by means of a turnable hollow head, drum or housing 25 and partscarried thereby, one form of the means for rigidly connecting the armand hollow head together being shown at 26, where inter-engaging screwthreads between the parts are provided.

Subsequent to the catching of a mail-bag, the arm 24 and housing orhead25, is positively revolved through the medium of a coiled band spring 27which is fastened to the body or post 21 as by means of set screws 28and to the turnable housing by set screws at 29. This spring 27 issupported by an annular plate or the like which is rigidly fastened tothe post 21 as by means of brackets 35. It is obvious that this outerend of the spring may be fastened to the housing in any suitable manner.As shown, the end projects interiorly of the housing as through anopening or slot 30, and the slot and projecting end is covered by ashield or plate 31 fastened to the housing by means of screws 32. Thearm 24 is positively maintained in projected position by means of alatch bolt 33 engaging a socket or slot 34 provided in the post 21.Fastened rigidly to the turnable housing 25, interiorly thereof, as bymeans of set screws 26, is a plurality of annular or ring shaped bearingmembers 36, one of which is located adjacent the top of the housing andthe other adjacent the bottom thereof. Said post 21 may extend looselythrough the bearing members 36 as shown. The lower bearingmember 36 islocated adjacent the base 22, which base serves as a bearing member, andbetween these adjacent bearing members may be mounted in a suitablemanner, anti friction means shown as balls 37. Adjacent the top of post21 is rigidly fastened as by means of brackets 38, an annular plate 39upon which loosely rests a bearing member in the form of a ringdesignated 40. Throughthis bearing member 40 the post 21 may looselyextend. Intermediate plate 39 and bearing members 36. and 40, may beprovided suitable anti-friction means shown as balls at 41 and 42respectively.

Suitable means is employed for checking the movement of the turnable armand housing thereof, and in such manner as not to impart severe shocksor jolts to the parts. Such means may be as follows: Adjacent the topand bottom of the post 21 are provided grooves 43 which are preferablysemi-circular, and the vertical wall of which starts from the peripheralwall of the post 21 and extends gradually inwardlyand terminates at theperipheral wall of said post. In this manner a wall that is not strictlyannular, but one that may be termed a cam wall, is provided. Into thegrooves 43 are adapted to extend brake blocks or members 44, the

inner ends of which directly bear against the cam walls. These brakeblocks may be supported in any suitable manner and as shown, slide insleeves 45 which have screw threaded engagement at 46 with the housing.Into the sleeves 45 are screwed, set screws or plugs 47 and intermediatethese plugs and the blocks are positioned coil springs 48 which projectand maintain the brake blocks in-. wardly and in frictional engagementwith the cam walls. It will be realized thatthrough the extent ofadjustment of the set screws 47 into the sleeve, that the tension of thespring 48 may be regulated.

Interiorly of the arm 24 is fastened as by means of ribs 49, a cylinderor hollow casing 50. In this casing 50 is slidably mounted the latchbolt 33. A guide plate 51 is secured interiorly of the casing 50 andtherethrough slidably passes a flexible latch shifting member 52. Thislatch shifting member is posi tively fastened at 53 to the latch bolt 33and surrounding the shifting member intermediate said bolt and plate 51,is mounted a coil spring 54 which normally projects the bolt beyond thecasing and in position to en gage the socket 34. Supported from the arm24 in any suitable manner, is a bracket 55 which terminates in a hook536, one arm of which is designated 57. To the bracket 55 as at 58, ispivoted a lock arm or member 59 adapted to normally maintain the hookclosed. On arm 57 is provided an abutment or stop member 60 againstwhich said pivoted lock member bears. One end of the flexible latchshifting member 52 is fastened to an arm of the lock member 59 as at 61;said flexible member preferably passing over a guide member in the formof a pulley 62 located adjacent the outer end of arm 2t. It will benoted and observed by reference to Fig. 7 that the lock member 59mounted so that in its travel, it will strike both of the trip members15), specifically the overlapping portions thereof.

In use, arm. or bracket 2 is projected from a car having fastenedthereto a ring such as S or its equivalent, and the mail-bag or bagssuspended thereon. The catching apparatus is also adjusted so that arm24!: will be projected at right angles to the direction of the track. Asthe our travels past the arm 2st, the arm 57 of hook 56 enters the ring8 and lock member 59 strikes the trips 19, shifting the same andaccordingly the flexible links 15, arms 13, links 12 and pins 10. Thepins 10 through this action are moved out of the eyes of eyeIIIBII'LbCIS 11, whereupon the hook engages the ring and positivelyslides the same out of engagement with the leaves 7, carrying the samethereon. As the hook passes through the ring, the impact of the ringthereagainst tilts the lock member 59 which accordingly shifts bypulling outwardly the flexible latch shifting member 52, which in turnslides the latch bolt 33 therewith and out of engagement with its keepersocket 3d. The impact of the ring 8 against said lock member, carriesthe ring past the lock member in which position it, is locked, as thelock member cannot move outwardly due to its abutment against the stopor abutment member 60. As the latch bolt disengages its keeper socket,spring 27 thereupon shifts the turnable housing 25 and accordingly thearm 2 1i. During the turning movement, the housing through the medium ofthe bearing members 36, turns on the base member and bearing member a0,friction between said parts being reduced by means of the ballscn'lployed, as shown. As the housing turns, its movement is braked orgradually impeded by the frictional and yielding engagement of the brakemembers ll against the cam walls of the grooves 43. This braking actionbeing furthe' assisted and friction increased between the wall and thebrake members due to the cam formation of the walls. The brake membersand grooves are of such construction and so arranged that the arm 2stturns to any extent desired, such as for a quarter of a revolution or ahalf of a revolution preparatory to another catch. Arm 24-. preparatoryto another catch is moved to projected position, and as such position isreached the latch bolt 33 will autmnatically slide into engagement withthe keeper socket 23 .1: pressed by the spring 54.

Numerous details in the construction of the device may be varied andhence are reserved providing they fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new aml desireto secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In apparatus of the class described, a post member, an arm turnablerelative to said post member, means on said arm to engage an article,means connected to said arm and to said post operating to turn said armafter engagement with an article by said means, and means on said armfrictionally engaging said post for the purpose specified.

2. ln apparatus of the class described, a stationary post member, aturnable arm member thereon, means on said arm 1nem her to engage anarticle, one of said meml )ers provided with a cam wall, the other ofsaid members provided with a brake memher in frictional engagementtherewith, means to maintain said arm in projected position and means toreturn said arm to normal position after release by said means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a stationary post member, an armturnable relatively to said post member, means on said arm to engage anarticle, said post member provided with a cam wall, said arm providedwith a brake member in frictional engagement with said wall, means toyieldably mount said brake member, and means to maintain said arm inprojected position, and means to return said arm to normal position uponrelease by said last means.

t. In apparatus of the class described. a post member, an'arm turnablcrelatively to said post member, means on said arm to engage an article,said post member provided with a groove having a cam wall, said armhaving a hollow portion, a brake member extending into said groovehaving a part in frictional engagement with said wall, said brake memberlocated within the hollow portion, a support member for said brakemember, and a spring bearing against said brake member.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a post member, an arm turnablcrelatively to said post member having a hollow portion extending aroundthe same, means on said arm to engage an article, said post memberprovided with a groove having a cam wall, a brake member extending intosaid groove having a part in frictional engagement with said wall, saidbrake member located within the hollow portion, a sleeve for said brakesition, and means intermediate said housing and said stationary means toreturn said arm to normal position upon release of said last means.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination with a stationary member, a

hollow arm turnable relatively thereto, a latch member to fasten saidarm to said member and in projected position, means operable to shiftsaid latch extending through said hollow arm, and means to re turn saidarm to normal position after shifting of said latch.

S. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with a stationarymember, an arm turnable relatively to said member having a housingmounted on said member, latch means engageable with said member tomaintain said arm in projected position, means to shift said latchmounted on said arm, and brake means intermediate said member and saidhousing.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a

post, an arm turnable relatively thereto, a housing on said arm, aspring fastened to said post and to said housing, and brake meansintermediate said housing and post.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a stationary member, an armturnable relatively thereto, a latch member to maintain said arm inadjusted position, an article-em gaging member on said arm, a shiftablelock member for said latch through movement of said lock member.

11. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with stationarymeans, an arm turnable relatively thereto, means to retard turningmovement of said arm in one direction, a spring fastened to saidstationary means and to said arm, and latch means on said arm engagingsaid stationary means.

12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with stationarymeans, an arm turnable relatively thereto, means to fasten said arm inprojected position, and means to disengage said fastening means operablethrough engagement with an article caught and means to retard turningmove ment of said arm in one direction.

18. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with stationarymeans, a turnable hollow arm having a housing engaging said stationarymeans, a latch to secure said arm in projected position,a pivoted memberengageable with an article caught, and means intermediate said pivotedmember and said latch member extending through said hollow arm to shiftthe latch member through shifting of said pivoted member.

14:. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with stationarymeans, an arm turnable relatively thereto, an article engaging member, alock member for said member, a latch to secure said arm in projectedposition relative to said stationary means, a spring pressing againstsaid latch, and means to shift said latch operable through movement ofsaid lock member.

15. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with stationarymeans, an arm turnable relatively thereto, an article engaging member onsaid arm, a lock member for said member, a latch member to maintain saidarm projected relatively to said stationary'means, a spring pressingagainst said latch member, and flexible means connecting said latchmember and said lock member.

16. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with stationarymeans, an arm turnable relatively thereto, an article engaging member onsaid arm, a lock member for said member, a latch member to maintain saidarm projected relatively to said stationary means, a casing for saidlatch member, a spring in said casing pressing against hook engageablewith said abutment, a slidable latch member to maintain said arm pro jected relatively to said stationary means, a casing for said slidablelock member, a plate in said casing, a spring mounted intermediate saidplate and latch member, a flexible latch shifting member connectedtosaid latch and to said lock member, andguide means for said shiftingmember. I v

18. In combination with a moving body, support means and an article, apivoted leaf on said support engaging said article, a lock membersecuring said leaf in locked position relatively to the article, a tripmember,

means to actuate said lock member through movement of said trip member,and means on said moving body engageable with said trip member.

19. In combination with a moving body, support means and an article, apivoted leaf on said support means engaging said article, a lock memberto secure said leaf in locked position, a pivoted arm, means connectingsaid lock member to said arm, a pivoted trip member, means to connectsaid'trip member to said arm, and means on said moving body engageablewith said trip member.

20. In combination with a moving body, support means and an article, apivoted leaf 100 on said hook, a pivoted lock member for said a engagingsaid article, a pin to 100k said leaf, 1 a pivoted arm, a linkconnecting said arm and said pin, a second link connected to said arm, apivoted trip member, said second link connected to said trip member, andmeans on said moving body to engage said trip member;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0t two Witnesses.

MAURICE D. VAN LENTEN.

Witnesses CORNELIUS VAN LENTEN, CORNELIUS VANDERVATE,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

